McHenry Times

Port Barrington Village President Keith Vogeler has clarified the village’s position on housing migrants, stating that the community lacks the necessary facilities and public transportation to accommodate migrants. Vogeler emphasized that the village does not anticipate migrants being routed through or into Port Barrington.

“We have no facilities for housing or accepting migrates, nor do we have any form of public transportation in our Village,” Vogeler told McHenry Times. “Therefore we do not anticipate any will be routed through or into our Village. We do not have any hotels or motels in our Village.”

The Village President also clarified that they currently lack ordinances addressing this issue and there are no plans to adopt any. Vogeler further mentioned their communication with Lake County: 

"We have been contacted by Lake County and have been given contact information that if any migrants did happen to arrive in our Village they will send buses to relocate them from our Village to a place that would be able to properly care for migrants."

Vogeler's remarks were made amidst Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's plea for assistance from suburban mayors regarding the city’s crisis with illegal immigrants.

"He’s asking us all for support, calling out the federal government," Gary Grasso, Burr Ridge’s Mayor, said of Johnson 

In an interview with NBC Chicago, Grasso revealed that Johnson specifically requested support for increased funding needs for shelter and services for the migrants and voiced his demand from Washington.

In another development, Mark Senak, Glen Ellyn Village President recently disclosed at the League of Women Voters Glen Ellyn 2024 State of the Village Annual Meeting on Jan. 26 that their community was offered an $11 million state grant to aid in permanently resettling illegal immigrants. This information was brought forward by State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), who informed about the availability of funds for this purpose as reported by DuPage Policy Journal.

This issue has gained more attention due to reports that over 34,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in Illinois since mid-2022, thus intensifying the calls for stricter border control measures. Last fall, Illinois allocated $42.5 million in grant money for municipalities to house illegal immigrants. As of last fall, Lake County, Elgin, Oak Park, Urbana and Chicago had received these grant funds from the state to assist with housing and other needs. In total, the state has allocated $500 million for the care of illegal immigrants according to Capitol News Illinois.